Table-lever for electric signaling apparatus.



E. W. VOGEL TABLE LEVER fUR ELECTRIC SIGNALING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION HLED run! 18. 1.914.

1,247,753. Patented Nov. 27, 1911.

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TABLE LEVER FOR ELECTRiC SIGNALING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 18. I914.

1 ,247J53 I Patented Nov. 27, 191 7.

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E. W. VOGEL.

TABLE LEVER FOR ELECTRIC SIGNALING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY :8. I914.

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TABLE LEVER FOR ELECTRIC SIGNALING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 18. 1914.

E. W. VOGEL.

TABLE LEVER FOR ELECTRIC SIGNALING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 18. 19M.

Patented Nov. 27, 1917'.

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UNITED STATES PATENT orFI c-E.

'EUGENE W. VOGEL, OF OAK PARK, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO CHICAGO RAILWAY SIGNAL ILLINOIS.

TABLE-LEVER FOR ELECTRIC SIGNALING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Yatent.

Patented Nov. 27, 1917.

Application filed July 18, 1814. Serial No. 851,699.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EUGENE W. VoonL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Oak Park, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Table-Levers for Electric Signaling Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a manually operated controlling device adapted to be used for controlling the operation of electrically actuated station or train-order signals, electrically actuated apparatus for throwing the switches or derails, or other apparatus of like character.

The invention has for its principal objects:

To provide a simple, compact device which may be set into the bed of a table, with the levers above the table and the operative mechanisms inclosed in a casing below the same, in such manner that the levers may be rea ly manipulated while all of the mechanisms controlled thereby are completely housed so that they cannot be accidentally injured or intentionally tampered with.

To provide in a device of this sort an arrangement of the contacts and of means for bringing same together and separating them, which will minimize arcing and make the contacting surfaces self-cleaning so as to insure proper electrical connections at all times.

To provide a controlling device which may be emploved for operating either a twoposition or a three-position signal, or a similar device, as may be desired.

To provide, in particular, a controlling device for a three-position signaling or like apparatus, by means of which the signal or semaphore arm may be moved from the normal to either of the other two positions by movements of diiierent amplitude of the same lever.

T 0' provide, in a signaling apparatus of this character, two or more controlling levers which are interlocked so that the manipulation of one lever is conditioned upon the position of the other.

To provide a simple and readily manipulated adjustment in the connecting means between the levers and the contacts, whereby tus to be hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention is illustrated, in a preferred form oi controlling device utilized for the control of a train-order signal, in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view taken through the controlling device shown as aiiixed to the bed of a table;

Fig. 2 a sectional plan taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3, a sectional elevation on line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4, a view, in perspective, of one set of contacts;

Fig. 5. a similar view of one of the controlling levers;

Fig. 6, an end view of the device, showing the table in section, viewed from the right-hand side of Fig. 1;

Figs. 7 and S, fragmentary views, in elevation, of one oi: the le ers and the contacts controlled thereby, Fig. 7 showing the lever in the normal position and Fig. 8 in the intermediate pos tion;

Fig. 9, a diagram illustrating the application of the controllin a J iaratus to an electrically actuated train-order signaling apparatus of the normal danger type, the parts being shown in the positions which they normally assume;

Fig. 10. a similar diagram showing the position of the parts when the semaphore arm is in the intermediate or caution position; and r Fig. 11. a similar diagram, the upper portion of which shows the parts of the apparatus in the position which they assume when the signal stands at clear, the lower portion of the diagram illustrating an apparatus for controlling the signal for the traftie in the opposite direction, this figure be ing intended particularly to illustrate a signaling system for a single track road.

Like characters of reference designate like parts in the several figures of the draw- While the controlling device of my invention might be employed in a variety of different situations, it is of particular utility as forming part of a station or train-order signaling apparatus such as that illustrated diagrammatically in Figs. 9 to 11 inclusive. Before proceeding to describe the mechani cal features of the controlling apparatus, brief description will be made of the signaling apparatus shown in these figures.

A designates a lever adapted to assume three positions, thereby causing the semaphore arm C to assume three corresponding positions. lVith the lever A in the position shown in Fig. 9, the semaphore arm is in its horizontal or danger position. lVith the lever moved to the intermediate position (Fig. 10) the semaphore arm stands at caution. lVith the lever A. thrown to the position shown in Fig. 11, the semaphore arm is moved to its upright position, indicating a clear track. The raising of the semaphore arm is accomplished by means of a motor D. It is held in the upright or diagonal position by means of a clutch magnet E. These devices and their operative connections with the semaphore arm are well known in this art and will not require illustration and clescription. It Will suliice to point out the electrical connections to the motor and magnet effected by the movements of the controlling lever. The lever A controls the movement of two contact arms F, G, adapted to be brought to bear against contacts F, G respectively. In the normal position of the parts of the apparatus shown in Fig. 9, the contacts of both pairs are separated. lVhen the lever is moved to the intermediate position (Fig. 10) the contact arm Gr is brought against the contact G closing the circuit through the motor D, and actuates the motor to raise the semaphore arm, this circuit being as follows: From battery H,

. wire 25, 26,- contacts G, G, wire 27, contact 28, 29, wire 30, motor D and wire 31. When the semaphore arm has passed through an a e o (dotted. l ne p o F s- 0), a contact arm 32 is brought to bear against a contact 33 closing circuit through the clutch magnet E whichis a shunt from the circuit just described and is as follows: wire 3d, contacts 32, 33, wire 35' and wire 36. The energization of the clutch magnet E pr ent h re n of th s maph e lVhen the semaphore arm reaches a pos tion, con ct arm -S'is moved a y from theren c 29 pen gthe met r circuit- Fbe m chan sms'far m ng th co t arms.2 .3 aren t sh n. or d be as s ch me han s s are well un e s o ures bf h appa a s for wa ng he s in phore arm te nd 110M111?! 1 a pos 01 scheme i ll hQWIl in Fiss- 9 t0 skilledin this art.

It will be observed from Fig. 10 that with the lever A. in the intermediate position, contact F stands away from contact F. lv'hen the lever A is moved to the position shown in Fig. 11, contacts G, G, remain together and contact F is brought against contact F. This closes a circuit through the motor as follows: wire 31, motor D, wire 37, contacts 38, 39 (which are normally together as in Figs. 9 and 10), wires l0, 41, contacts F. F, and wires 42, 25. When the semaphore arm has passed through an arc of 47 contacts 82, 33 separate, cuttii'lg out the clutch magnet. When the arm reaches a position at 88 from the horizontal, a contact arm is brough against a contact 44 closing a circuit through the clutch magnet which is a shunt from the motor circuit last traced, and the clutch magnet is thereby actuated to keep the semaphore arm from returning from its clear position. This circuit is as follows: wire 36, clutch magnet E, wires 35, 45, contacts ll, 41-3, wire 4L6. iVhen the semaphore arm reaches the 90 position, contacts 38, 39 separate. breaking the circuit through the motor. The clutch magnet circuit remains closed until the lever A. is returned from the position shown in Fig. 11 to one of the other two positions.

The lower portion of Fig. 11. illustrates the operation of a sen'iaphore arm J for governing the trailic on the track passing in the direction opposite to that governed by semaphore arm (I. The controlling mechanism is the same as that operated by lever A. The apparatus for moving the semaphore arm J is exactly like that used for moving the arm C. in order to make it impossible t give contradictory signals at the same time with the arms 0 and J, a locking dog I: is arrar ed hetween the controlling device opera? hy lever and the controlling device o ierated by lever B, which dog prevents lever lg from being thrown after the lever A has been moved from its normal position, and vice versa.

1 will now describe the details of corn struction of the controlling device of which. the levers A and i form a part.

The levers are formed, in each case, with a hub 47 by means of which they are mounted on a shaft lS supported by webs i9 depending from an upper housing meu'iber 50 and by a central web 51 forming a. part of the same housing memher. The latter has curved top 52 formed with slots 3 through which the levers work, and with notches 5 to receive the usual spring-pressed locking dogs 55 with wh ch the levers are provided. The upper housing member is adapted to he fitted into an openingin the'tahle top 56 and is formed with flanges 5?, 58pm jecting under and secured to the underside f the table top. Hinged at 52 to the flange 57 a lower housing nie nl' er so which is secured atthe other end to the upper housing member by a screw bolt 61. Preferably the housing members are formed with lugs 62, 63 perforated for a padlock 64 (Fig. 6). The lower housing member 60 has a small opening 65 provided with a, bushing 66 of insulating material, through which pass the wires leading to the controlled a iparatus. Each lever is formed with a. segmental projection 67 formed with a notch. 66. The locking-dog K referred to above is arrange in an opening in the web with notches 68 arranged as shown in Figs. 2 and 5. Either lever may be moved from its normal position, but, one lever having been so moved, it is impossible to throw the other until the first one has been returned.

As the devices and arrangements associated with the two levers, A and B, are the same, it will be suflicient to describe those associated with lever A.

The lever A is provided below the hub i7 with a pair of lugs 69 formed with angularly disposed projections 70. ()n the shaft 48, on opposite sides of the lever, are disks 71, 72, formed with arcuate slots '73 through which extend set-screws 74: binding the disks to the adjacent lugs 69 but with considerable capacity for adjustment. The disks are preferably, also, held by setscrews extending through the projections and bearing against the perimeters of the disks. Each disk is formed. with an arcuate slot 76 to receive a. link 7 7. The other ends oi tha link 77 are held between pairs of. clocks but with capacity for rocking mo ement, pairs of blocks being secured by screws '79, one pair to the contact arm F a ml the other to the contact arm G above referred to. The contact arms F, (lr, consist of bowed spring members with their u pper ext-1" iities secured in slots formed in blocks 60 stened by binding posts 81 to an insulati block 82. The latter is secured by screws to a. hollow, rectangular bracket mei'nl'ie fast-ened by screws to the inside of the upper housing member 50. The contact F, G consist of shorter bowed s irings secured at one end in each case to the cross piece 86 of a bracket 87 fastened by the binding post 88 to block 82. The lower ends of these contact springs are bent around under the cross pieces 86 against which the springs normally bear, the cross pieces thereby forming stops for the springs.

When the contact is made between F and F, for example, the spring F is pushed back. In breaking the circuit by retracting the spring F the springs will re 1a.: together until F comes against the cross piece 86. As a result of this arrangement there is a quick, sharp separation between the contacts at just the point desired.

The springs F. G are much longer than the springs F, G so that the former have a wiping movement on the latter when the springs come together and separate, which makes the contacting surfaces self-cleaning.

When the apparatus is used for controlling a three-position signal, as shown in Figs. 9 to 11 inclusive, the disks T1, 72 are set so that the slots T6 have different angular positions with respect to the lEYQi'. Thus in the arrangement shown the forward disk 71, which is connected with the contact arm G, is set so that the link connecting the disk to contact arm G will reach the bottom. of the slot 76 before the link connecting the disk 7:2 to the contact arm F reaches the bottom of the corresponding slot in disk 72. The normal position of the parts is shown in Fig. 7, the contact members F F being directly behind the contact members G, G, respectively. When the lever is moved to the intermediate position so as to raise the semaphore arm C to the caution position, the position of 'the disks and contacts is shown in Fig. 8. Contact G is moved against contact G. Contact r is moved toward contact F but is not brought against it. In Figs. 1 and 2 the lever A is shown in the third position, tl e postion in which the semaphore arm (J is raised to clear, and the disks and contacts are shown in the corresponding positions. The contact Gr pushes contact G" back a trifle. The contact spring F is thought against contact spring F.

In. order to adapt the controlling device for operating a signaling apparatus of the normal clear type, contacts F G are provided, against which the contact springs F, G, hear when the corresponding levers are in the position shown in Fig. 4. The springs F G are, in all respects, like springs F, G. Each is secured to the cross piece 89 of a bracket 90 fastened to the block 82 by a binding post 91. The ope ation of the controlling apparatus, when utilizing the contacts F G in place of contacts F, G, to the control of the semaphore arm on the normal clear principle will be obvious.

When the controlling device is used in connection with a two-position signal, only one pair of contacts comes into play, the

disks 71, 72, being adjusted so that the slots 76 therein stand in the same relative position with respect to the lever. The adjustability of the disks 71, 72, serves not only in the conversion of the device from a twoposition to a three-position device and vice versa, but also enables the throw of the contact members F, G, to be varied so to accurately effect the making and breaking of the circuits at the desired points.

While I have described my invention in a preferred embodiment and as applied to the control of a particular type of electrically actuated apparatus, modifications might be made in the structural features of the apparatus as described, and the apparatus might be employed in dilli erent connections from those shown without departure from the principles of the invention. Therefore, 1 do not wish to be understood as limiting the invention to the particular constructions, arrangements, devices and combinations shown except so far as said constructions, arrangements, devices and combinations are n'iade specifically limitations in certain of the claims herein.

1 claim:

1. In a controlling device for electrical appa "atus, the combination with a lever, of a disk rotatably adjustable on said lever, a pair of spring contact members, a link connecting one of said members with said disk, and a stop which limits the move ment of the other of said members toward the first specified member.

2. In a controlling device for electrical apparatus, the combination with a contact member and means for giving it angular movement, of a fixed supporting bracket having a cross-piece, a bowed spring contact member which extends around the crosspiece with one end secured to the face thereof adjacent to said first mentioned contact member, and the other end in the path of said member.

3. In a controlling devi-e for electrical apparatus, the combination with a contact member and means for giving it angular movement, of a fixed supporting bracket having a cross-piece, a bowed spring contact member which extends around the crosspiece with one ell secured to the face thereof adjacent to said first mentioned contact member, and the other end in the path of said member, said contact members having angulamovement through arcs of different radius so as to produce a wiping movem it of one against the other.

in a controlling device for electrical,

apparatus, the combination with a lever, of a disk rotatably adjustable on said lever and "formed with a slot, a spring contact member, a link connecting the same with said disk through the slot therein, a bracket having a cross-piece, and a bowed spring contact member shorter than said firstnamed memb r, secured to the front face of said cross-piece with its other extremity pro- M t, H *1 f 1 "M 5 a1 JLL 111% 1.0 0 L119 Pdml O i ,C Dim, ildilid.

contact member.

5. in a controlling device tor electrical apparatus, the combination with a housing adapted to be set into the topof .a table-and comprising upper and lower housing members, of 'a'shaft supported in said housing, a pairotlevers mounted on said shaft, contacts. within said housing which are controlled by said lever, a web in said housing r which intervenes between the levers and is formedavith an opening," therethroutfb., nd

an interlocking dog in said opening adapted to lock one of said levers in a given position except when the other lever is in a given position.

6. In a controlling device for electrical apparatus, the combination with a housing comprising an upper housing nember adapted to be set into the top of a table formed with flanges secured to the underside of said table-top and with slots for levers and a lower housing member hinged to the upper housing member, of means for locking said housing members together, a shaft in said housing, levers mounted on said shaft, contacts within said housing controlled by said levers, and an interlocking dog between said levers whereby the position of one lever conditions the operation of the other.

7. ln a controlling device for electrical apparatus, the combination with a controlling lever adapted to assume three positions, of two pairs of cooperating contacts, and connecting means between said lever and said contacts whereby, in one position of the lever, the contacts of both pairs are sepa rated in another position, those of one pair are together and those of another pair separated, and in the third position the contacts of both pairs are together, said means being adjustable so that, when desired, the contacts of each pair may be brought together and separated simultaneously.

8. In apparatus for controlling a signalapparatus having two separate circuits, the combination of a lever provided with means whereby it may be held fixed in different angular positions, two pairs of cooperating contacts, one in each circuit, rotatable means associated with said lever so as to be rotated by the movement thereof, and links connected with one of the contacts of each pair of contacts respectively, and having sliding connections with said rotatalole means, arranged so that they are effectively engaged .vith said rotatable means at ditterentrangular positions of said lever.

9. in apparatus for controlling a signal ing apparatus having two separate circuits, toe combination of a lever provided with means whereby it may be held fixed in different angular positions, two pairs of coopcrating contacts, one in each circuit, a pair of disks connected with said lever so to be rotated thereby and provided. with -.rcuate slots at different angular positions with respect to the axis of rotation of said disks, and links connected with one contact 0 each pair-of contacts and having a sliding engagement with said disks in said slots.

10. In apparatus for controllingasignaling apparatus having twoseparatc circuits, the combination of a lever provided with teventxanaular n arms, two

operating contacts, one in each circuit, a pair of disks connected with said lever so as to be rotated thereby and provided with arcuate slots at different angular positions with respect to the axis of rotation of said disks, and links connected with one contact of each pair of contacts and having a sliding engagement with said disks in said slots, said disks being independently adjustable so that said pairs of contacts may be brought together and separated simultaneously.

11. In apparatus of the character described, the combination with two rotatable elements having the same axis of rotation and )IOVlClQCl with handles for manipulation and with means for holding said elements in diiferent fixed angular positions, sets of contacts adapted to be brought together and separated by rotation of said elements, respectively, a locking dog supported in position parallel to the axis of rotation of said elements and slidable in the direction oi its length, said rotatable elements comprising members having surfaces against which the ends of the dog are adapted to bear, and differently positioned notches of equal depth, the length of the locking dog being equal to the distance between said surtace plus the depth of one of said notches.

12. In apparatus for controlling an elec trically operated, three-position signaling apparatus, the'combination with a slotted housing, a lever pivoted within said housing and extending through the slot therein, means whereby said lever may be engaged at different angular positions with the housing, a pair of disks concentric with the axis of rotation of the lever and connected with said lever by means which gives them capacity for rotational adjustment, said disks being formed with arcuate slots, a pair of fixed contacts, a pair of movable contacts cooperating with said fixed conticts, respectively, and links pivotally connected to said movable contacts and slidingly connected to said disks through the slots therein.

In apparatus for controlling an elecrically operated, three-position signaling pparatus, the combination with a housing :tornied with parallel slots, levers pivoted within said housing on a common axis and 92(121'tll11g through the slots therein, means whereby said l levers may be engaged at different angular positions in the housing, two pairs ct disks concentric with the axis of rotation of the levers, one pair being connected with one lever and the other pair with the other lever by means which gives them capacity for rotational adjustment, said disks being formed with arcuate slots, a pair of fix d contacts associated with each lever, a pair of movable contacts for each pair of fixed contacts cooperating with each pair of fixed contacts, links pivotally connected to said movable contacts and slidingly connected to said disks through the slots therein, arcuate members on said levers having dillerently positioned notches of equal depth, and a locking dog between said arcnate members slidably supported so as to be movable in the direction of its length, one end 01 which fits into one of said notches, the other end bearing against the outer surface of the other arcuate member EUGENE lV. VOGEL.

Vitnesses G. Y. Skixxnn,

H. M. HUTci-nxos.

Copies 0! this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

